Apple's new AirPods wireless headphones are just hitting the market--albeit nearly two months later than intended--delivering sleek, minimalist style and powerful underlying tech that's super easy to use in an apparent homage to the company's original music offering: iPod.

In 2001, Apple unveiled a singular product that launched the company out of the niche PC market and started an evolution that morphed the company into the world-dominating presence we know now. That device was iPod.

A patent that Creative Technologies used in the beginning of the century against the iPod forcing a $100 million payout by Apple has been invalidated, saving the rest of the smartphone industry from costly settlements and protracted legal battles.

Starting Wednesday in some venues, Apple Maps will supplement existing data on parking with more information from the Parkopedia database, including pricing, real-time spot availability, and hours of operation of garages and parking lots.

We polled AppleInsider readers to find the best note taking app available for iOS. Your choice was the one already built into every iPhone and iPad, Notes, with readers saying the improvements made in iOS 9 are enough to make the default option also the best option.

Apple's new iPod touch -- which packs the same A8 chip found in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus -- is an exceptionally compelling product, and one that could force prospective iPad mini buyers to think twice about their decision. AppleInsider compares and contrasts Apple's best iPod and smallest iPad.

A teardown of the sixth-generation iPod touch published on Friday exposed new details about the device, including the presence of a marginally bigger battery, the lack of a sapphire lens cover, and which chipmakers are involved in supplying parts.

In a world of iPhones and iPads, iPods nevertheless continue to have a place at Apple, and Wednesday's update of the iPod touch -- plus new colors for the Nano and Shuffle -- raise the question of which iPod, if any, a person should buy.

Apple surprised on Wednesday by including its latest-generation A8 processor in the latest iPod touch -- a decision that makes it a formidable and highly affordable opponent to the company's mid-range iPhone 5s.

All three devices in Apple's existing iPod lineup -- the iPod nano, shuffle and touch -- gained three new color options on Wednesday. And while the iPod touch's internal components were overhauled, the iPod nano and shuffle specifications remain unchanged.

Apple on Wednesday overhauled its iPod touch lineup for the first time in years, debuting a new high-end $399 model with a 128-gigabyte capacity, while giving all versions a 64-bit A8 processor, M8 motion coprocessor, and 8-megapixel rear camera.

Shipping times for some iPod models -- mostly for the iPod touch -- have lengthened at Apple's U.S. online store ahead of an anticipated refresh on Tuesday, during which Apple is expected to add new colors and upgrade the Touch's internals.

Apple is expected to launch an updated iPod touch next week, a refresh that is likely to bring new colors and updated internals that reportedly include a move to a more recent 64-bit A-series application processor.

An update to Apple's dwindling iPod lineup is indeed in the works, Apple's own iTunes software appears to indicate, thanks to graphics showing gold versions of the iPod touch, nano and shuffle, along with new shades of blue and pink.